The Carter Lab at NIH: A Model of Inclusive Excellence in Biomedical Research.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dr. Barrie Carter served as the chief of the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. During that time, his group performed seminal work in adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 2 (AAV2) biology, including creating one of the first infectious clones of AAV2 and some of the first packaged AAV2 vectors. This work contributed substantially to the development of AAVs as gene therapy vectors. Part of the success of the group was due to Dr. Carter's ability to attract and manage a diverse team of talented individuals who synergized into a collaborative group that was more than the sum of its parts. This review describes some of the promising practices employed by the Carter group, which allowed such a diverse group to function so well. These practices included promoting a culture of co-mentoring, open communication, and respectful questioning.